78 consumer complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV. Click any complaint to view the full owner description.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGApril 20, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Several dealers were previously contacted for recall inspection appointments, and the contact was informed that the manufacturer had denied the request to perform the service. A dealer was recently contacted and agreed to schedule the recall repair appointment. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle would remain with the dealer in the event that the vehicle failed the inspection, and the vehicle would be repaired in 3-4 months because the part was on backorder. The contact was informed that vehicle rental assistance might not be provided. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
ENGINEApril 18, 2026
82.826 miles sounded like a idler pully making dinging noise got louder driving in city went to get on highway sudden lost of power and rattling noise and jerking and lunging got off first exit pulled into parking lot and shut it off. Called dealer they sent tow truck diagnosed it as bad motor 4/6/26 got remanufactured motor on 4/17/26 waiting to see how long this one lasts
ENGINEApril 15, 2026
I purchased a used 2021 Cadillac Escalade in May 2025 with approximately 48,000 miles. While driving on Highway 14 near Acton CA at speeds exceeding 60 mph, the vehicle experienced a catastrophic engine failure (March 28th - 2026). The engine suddenly lost all power and shut off completely while in motion. Only electrical systems remained operational. At the time of the incident, I had my three children in the vehicle. This created a dangerous situation, as I was forced to maneuver across traffic and safely pull over without engine power. The vehicle could not be restarted and had to be towed to the dealership. The dealership replaced the engine with a refurbished unit April 14th - 2026. I was not informed in advance that the replacement engine would be refurbished rather than new. Immediately following the engine replacement, the vehicle began experiencing additional issues, including electrical malfunctions and air suspension problems, which required further repairs. After retrieving the vehicle, it is still not operating as expected. The vehicle is noticeably slow, sluggish, and noisy, raising concerns about reliability and the potential for another failure. Given the sudden loss of engine power at highway speed and the continued performance issues after repair, I have serious concerns about the safety of this vehicle.
ENGINEApril 2, 2026
This vehicle had its engine replaced at around 33,000 miles. Today, at around 43,000, the replacement engine failed. It's now at the dealer waiting for yet another engine replacement.
ENGINEMarch 16, 2026
In early February, 2026, a check engine light produced code P1098, engine coolant control valve position sensor performance. Code caused the cooling fans to run continuously when the engine reached a certain temperature and the vehicle had reduced acceleration, which posed a safety hazard when driving the vehicle due to prolongated times to get to the posted speed limit and posed a hazard to other drivers because of reduced acceleration. The vehicle was inspected by Jerry Seiner Dealerships on North Salt Lake, Utah and the check engine light code of P1098 was confirmed. I reviewed General Motors bulletins and found that a special coverage N252508341 which covered LM2 Coolant Control Valve Replacement, dated September 16, 2025. The special coverage applies to Cadillac Escalade model year 2021 to 2023. When I asked the dealership about this coverage, I was informed that the coverage did not apply to my vehicle as the bulletin was VIN specific. I called Cadillac and opened a case with Cadillac as I found it unreasonable that General Motors / Cadillac know there is an issue with coolant control valves, yet they refused to cover the cost of repairs for my vehicle because of the VIN was not part of the special coverage N252508341. I paid for the dealership to replace the coolant control valve as the vehicle was not safe to drive due to the reduced acceleration. My complaint is that General Motor / Cadillac knows there is an issue with the coolant control valves for my vehicle model year, yet they refused the coverage for my vehicle due to the VIN. General Motors offered to cover 216.06. I paid 1,387.40 3% credit card transaction fee for the repair, this repair would have been free under the special coverage bulletin. General Motors should reimburse me for the expense of this repair as they know there is an issue with coolant control valves.
ENGINEFebruary 18, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the engine made ticking sounds. The check engine and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the engine consumed an excessive amount of oil and that engine oil was added every two to three weeks. The contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer informed the contact that because the vehicle was used as a limousine, the engine was consuming more oil than was normal. The dealer replaced the engine, but the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
ENGINEFebruary 10, 2026
My 2021 Cadillac experienced a catastrophic engine failure that is mechanically identical to a known GM engine defect currently under recall. GM has denied coverage solely because my VIN is not included, despite the failure matching recall symptoms and diagnostics. This defect caused sudden loss of vehicle use and presents a safety and financial risk. GM is excluding vehicles with identical failures from recall coverage based strictly on VIN rather than defect presence. I am requesting NHTSA review of recall scope and defect coverage.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTUREFebruary 7, 2026
I am experiencing an ongoing issue with my vehicle’s rear passenger door. The door frequently cannot be opened from either the inside or the outside. At first, I believed the problem was related to the child safety lock. However, even after confirming that the child safety lock is fully disengaged, the door still fails to open from both inside and outside. Occasionally, after turning the vehicle off and restarting it several times, the door will open normally. However, the problem returns randomly, and the door appears to lock itself again without warning. Based on these symptoms, I strongly suspect a defect or malfunction in the rear door latch or door lock actuator. This issue presents a significant safety concern, as it can prevent passengers from exiting the vehicle when needed. I am requesting a thorough inspection and proper repair to permanently resolve this issue. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINEFebruary 5, 2026
On 12/18/2025 at approximately 73,097 miles, while driving on I-75 near Wildwood, Florida at about 75 mph, the vehicle experienced a sudden powertrain failure. The engine became seized/locked, the vehicle progressively lost power, and there were abnormal/loud mechanical noises. I was able to avoid a crash, but the event created a safety risk due to loss of propulsion at interstate speed. No accident occurred. The vehicle later received an engine replacement at Plaza Cadillac (Leesburg, FL). Dealer paperwork indicates completion on 01/07/2026, and the vehicle was returned to me on 02/02/2026. After the engine replacement, the vehicle displays safety-related warnings including: “Service Transmission Now – Unable to Shift Soon” “Service Electric Parking Brake” Because of these warnings, I am not driving the vehicle. The dealer plans to tow the vehicle in for inspection. In addition, the dealership has stated in writing that they typically clear diagnostic codes for test driving and that no post-repair/post-road-test diagnostic scan reports are saved or printed, meaning there may be limited retained documentation verifying that all modules were fault-free at release after the engine replacement. Cadillac case reference: Cadillac Care Center Service Request #88422536. I consent to sharing this complaint and vehicle details with the manufacturer.
STEERING,WHEELSJanuary 22, 2026
The steering wheel locked up and the car shifted. I was unable to control the steering wheel it caused a crash
Crash reported
NHTSA #11712702ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINEJanuary 2, 2026
My wife was driving my kids to their nana and papas house when the vehicle loss power. The vehicle started to have a knocking noise and started to vibrate towards the engine compartment. The dash lit up like a Christmas tree. We took the vehicle to a local mechanic and he suggested that we might need a tune up. We purchased 8 brand new spark plugs, spark plug wires and 8 brand new coil packs. The local mechanic installed all of the new parts and the vehicle acted just like it was before the tune up. We then took the vehicle to Boyd Cadillac in Henderson,NC. Tim, who is our service provider, contacted us and told us that we had severe engine failure. His recommendation was a complete engine install. We have used Boyd Cadillac, Tim on several occasions. We had an alternator replacement done which was not under warranty. We had lifters replaced under warranty around the 50k mile mark.
ENGINEDecember 18, 2025
Since April 2025, my 2021 escalade has been losing oil quickly. No leak externally has been found. The recent recall found "no engine problems" and placed new thicker oil, but the leak continues with us losing significant amounts of oil every 500 miles. This engine remains defective, losing oil internally, and is putting 600,000 drivers+ at risk for engine failure or loss of propulsion. The recall has not solved the issue at all and the protocol to declare an engine OK and change the oil is insufficient.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGNovember 24, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the local service center for routine maintenance and after an oil change was performed, the vehicle was started but immediately shut off and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact related the failure to the recall. The failure mileage was 96,000.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINENovember 19, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was displayed on the instrument panel with an abnormal whining sound coming from the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the battery needed to be replaced. The battery was replaced; however, the check engine warning light illuminated the following day. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle started to jerk abnormally while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle shut off in the middle of the highway. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed back to the dealer, where it remained unrepaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.
ENGINEOctober 28, 2025
The connecting rod and crankshaft failed while driving on the interstate causing loss of power.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGOctober 24, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH on the freeway, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced; however, the part was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGOctober 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the vehicle started to lose power with several unknown warning lights on the instrument panel. Despite the failure, the contact was able to coast the vehicle to an independent mechanic with heavy white smoke coming from the vehicle. The mechanic inspected the vehicle and diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The vehicle was towed to a dealer who confirmed the engine failure. The contact was notified of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was given the same information as the dealer. The contact was then referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 35,000.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMSeptember 17, 2025
Car died in the middle of road. You pump the gas, nothing. This happened twice. Once at about 30000 miles and then at 60000 miles. The dealer had to replace a module or electrical box for fuel pump.
ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMSeptember 9, 2025
My vehicle has a recall and I took it to the dealer on the 28th of June and this is the date that I still do not have my vehicle. I have a report at Cadillac to replace the engine. The dealer sends all the information to GM Cadillac to authorize the engine replacement since it has metal inside due to the recall and the vehicle is off, it does not start, nobody tells me anything. I am renting another vehicle paying for two vehicles. My situation is very difficult. Cadillac only talks and talks and nothing from Cadillac. It has been 72 days waiting, losing money. Cadillac has not offered me anything, for move nothing
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGSeptember 2, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure.
ENGINEAugust 30, 2025
My 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV experienced a complete engine failure at approximately 83,000 miles. I purchased it used at around 23,552 miles. Despite having been properly maintained, the engine failed and GM denied powertrain warranty coverage, stating the warranty had expired. I was forced to pay $7,300 out-of-pocket for a full engine replacement. This was an extremely dangerous mechanical failure, which could have led to serious harm if it occurred at high speed. I am aware of similar engine complaints in other GM vehicles and am requesting that NHTSA investigate this safety-related issue.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGAugust 25, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The VIN was included, but the vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 57,000.
POWER TRAIN,ENGINEAugust 20, 2025
While driving there was a loud noise and car started shaking and continued making clunking sounds. Had to pull over. Vehicle is not drivable. Had it towed to the dealership, they are saying the ther is an issue with a rod and engine is blown and needs a new engine. They are describing the same exact issue that this motor is on recall for other vehicles with the same motor and same year, but for some reason the manufacturer won't put ours on the recall list.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINEAugust 8, 2025
My vehicle comes to an abrupt stop while driving or when I’m pulling off at an intersection. This has happened on 4 different occasions in which I’ve injured my knee due to the vehicle stopping at random while I’m driving or pulling off. I’ve stated this to Cadillac of Memphis and to Landers GMC. The first time I happened I hit my knee by the control panel on the driver side. I’m in a brace because my patellar tendon are inflamed and as well my hoffas fat pad due to the impact. Cadillac of Memphis stated it was something that went out and needed to be replaced. They replaced the battery and another part. That did not correct the issue. It happened again after that repair. The third time it happened I was told it was because the transmission was about to go out. Landers replaced the transmission. The advisor stated it should fix the problem. This was about a month ago. Today on 08/08/2025 it happened again and I also hit my knee injuring it even more than more. I’m still in a brace and now have to re-evaluated to see if the abrupt stop caused more injury. This is dangerous because my entire body jerks and cars are coming up behind me in the road and I can get into an serious accident. I need something done about this.
1 injury(ies)
NHTSA #11679462ELECTRICAL SYSTEMAugust 1, 2025
After driving about 3 hours, the TPMS system displays an error saying the module has failed. This occurs with OEM and aftermarket TPMS sensors. The error clears itself after the vehicle is parked for > 1 hour. The dealer has found no fault in the sensors but would not test the system otherwise. Losing TPMS readings during long drives is unsafe and could lead to an accident or damage to the vehicle if tire damage occurs while the system is malfunctioning.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMAugust 1, 2025
The rear, third row passenger vent will occasionally put out very hot air. This results in the back seats becoming overheated especially on hot days. This is putting my young children at risk for heat related injuries and possibly death as the front seats remain cooled but the rear compartment heats up substantially. The dealer was unable to reproduce the problem but it occurs at random so reproduction is difficult. No error codes are shown. The problem will resolve once the vehicle is shut off for an extended period of time but will then recur at random putting all rear passengers that are sleeping or too young to complain about the temperature at significant risk.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHERAugust 1, 2025
Twice in the last 6 months the vehicle doors have locked at random while the key was inside the vehicle. Both times, my children were trapped in the vehicle exposed to potential heat issues. Fortunately, in both cases the doors were able to be opened through another door that was still open one time and by hitting the unlock button through a slightly rolled down window. Breaking the glass was the next option. This is a serious safety defect that is putting young children and pets at risk for heat injury or death. There are no indications as to why this started, no warnings displayed, and seems to occur at random. Disabling autolock features does not resolve the issue meaning some glitch or equipment failure is causing the doors to lock despite all autolock features turned off.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGJuly 17, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that while returning from vacation, the vehicle stalled while the contact's wife was driving at 70 MPH. The contact's wife managed to pull to the shoulder of the highway. The vehicle was towed over 100 miles to the nearest dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and informed the contact that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000(Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle remained with the dealer for 90 days, and an unknown partial engine repair was performed. The vehicle was then towed to the contact's local dealer, where it remained for the final repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 69,608. Parts distribution disconnect.
ENGINEJuly 2, 2025
At [XXX] my car started shaking on the highway I was my kids I happened and thanks God was less traffic after this problem I goes to BAYWAY CADILLAC SOUTHWEST Houston Texas 77074 From May 8 to till now my car is there and asking me 5000$ because they put new engine even this is not my fault Im uber driver and that is only my source of income in loss a lot because my car is in there hand INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMJune 28, 2025
Experienced engine failure as outline in recall for 6.2liter L87 engines. Engine failure occured on 5/28/2025. Confirmed engine failure by Cadillac dealer on 5/29/2025. Vehicle is still in repair shop with no ETA on replacement motor. Cadillac has failed to provide a comparable loaner vehicle. This is creating financial impact as I use my vehicle for work.
POWER TRAIN,ENGINEJune 27, 2025
While on a family vacation in the Black Hills, I began to hear a knocking sound from the front right of the vehicle. Shortly after the engine began to sputter and multiple warning lights/ messages began to appear. Just prior to this, everything on the vehicle was functioning perfectly. We stopped operating the vehicle immediately when it began to malfunction and pulled over, leaving me and my young family stranded over an hour away from our rental cabin. The next day we were able to get a tow truck and find a dealership, Denny Menholt Chevrolet back in Rapid City, SD that was able to look at it right away. We were told by Denny Menholt later that day that there was a bearing failure of the rod and piston on cylinder #8 and that the entire engine block was destroyed resulting in the need of a whole new engine. We were also told by the dealer that our vehicle was not included in the recall of all the other 6.2 motors, however, GM was going to take care of everything including a brand new engine, rental car coverage, and shipping the vehicle back to us, all free of charge to us. Fast forward several weeks and we got a call from Denny Menholt stating that GM had gone back on their word and was not going to pay for any of the damages because we were 7k miles over the powertrain warranty. I have filed a complaint with GM customer service but have gotten nowhere after 3 weeks worth of phone calls and emails. The engine failure that I had is the exact same problem that all of the other 6.2 motors have been recalled for, so I don't understand why my vehicle is not also included in the recall. This issue left me in a very bad place being stranded with a [XXX] and [XXX]. As a lifelong GM customer, I'm severely disappointed in GM and the way that they have handled my case. This Escalade is supposed to be their top of the line vehicle, it only made it to 77,632 miles before it had catastrophic engine failure, and now GM will not stand behind their product. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
ENGINEJune 25, 2025
Vehicle: 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV Engine: 6.2L V8 Mileage at failure: 84,000 miles Problem: Complete engine failure Description: I own a 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV with a 6.2L V8 engine. At only 84,000 miles, the engine failed and had to be completely replaced. The symptoms and failure are identical to what is described in GM’s recent recall of 2021–2024 Escalades with 6.2L V8 engines. However, when checking my VIN, it shows that my vehicle is not included in the current recall. Given the premature engine failure and matching issue, I believe the recall scope may be too narrow and does not fully capture all affected vehicles. I’m requesting NHTSA investigate and consider expanding the recall to include my VIN. I have repair records and can provide further details.
ENGINEJune 16, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the check engine and traction control warning lights illuminated. Additionally, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. The contact stated that the vehicle started to lose motive power and was pulled over, turned off, and then restarted. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 145,000.
ENGINEMay 28, 2025
City and highway driving, lost power on acceleration. Engine started knocking. Had vehicle towed to dealership. Through a piston. This vehicle had all the described issues of 6.2 liter V8 2021 cadillac escalade ESV, but I have not received a recall. This vehicle has been out of service since April 2025 and no recall and no replacement parts (new engine)
ENGINEMay 21, 2025
GM has a coolant control valve issue that impacts all Escalades and Suburban vehicles. Vehicle will maintain speed as a result of issue. This is a huge safety issue. All of a sudden the car drops to 45mph.
ENGINEMay 1, 2025
Engine failure
ENGINEApril 30, 2025
The vehicle experienced a catastrophic engine failure while it was being driven, according to the renter who had it through Turo. It broke down and stalled at a stoplight. I then had it towed to a Cadillac dealership in Cocoa Beach. After inspection, the dealership informed me that the engine had seized and provided a replacement estimate of over $16,000. Because of the high cost, I chose to take the vehicle to a reputable local repair shop (Fastlane Automotive). They quoted me a lower price of approximately $11,000. The engine is currently on order but is backordered at the moment and its currently parked up there. I firmly believe this engine failure is connected to an active recall affecting this vehicle.
ENGINEApril 29, 2025
My 2021 Cadillac Escalade experienced a sudden engine failure due to the L87 “Loss of Propulsion” recall. The vehicle has been undrivable since February 25, 2025, and has been at the dealership (Ocean Cadillac in Miami, FL) for over two months with no completed repair and no timeline for resolution. Despite repeated communication, GM and the dealership have failed to provide a loaner vehicle or reimbursement for transportation, even though this is a known safety-related recall issue. The extended downtime has caused significant business losses, disrupted transportation, and left me without safe vehicle access. I am requesting NHTSA’s assistance to ensure GM complies with their recall obligations and resolves this matter immediately. I am also concerned about ongoing unresolved vehicle quality issues reported during warranty service visits, but my primary safety concern relates to the engine recall and loss of propulsion.
ENGINEApril 9, 2025
Vehicle Purchased: [XXX] Incident Date: [XXX] •Engine Failure – Catastrophic Engine Failure •Yes, the unit is available for inspection at North County Cadillac - Escondido, CA. •Yes, safety for my family and others was put at risk – Unit stalled in the middle lane of [XXX] at 65mph with heavy traffic. •Catastrophic Engine Failure confirmed by North County Cadillac. •Yes, it was inspected by North County Cadillac and the engine is being replaced with new one under warranty. •There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms, unit just turned off and went into neutral by itself. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
ENGINEApril 7, 2025
I get oil changed regularly. For the last several thousands of miles, I keep getting low engine oil warning approximately 2,000 miles before an oil change is due. When I go to add more oil, there barely any oil showing on the dip stick and when I open the cap to add more oil, there's smoke coming out.
ENGINEMarch 27, 2025
Engine completely seized on [XXX] pulling a trailer and boat. Vehicle was equipped to pull weight. Was stranded with 4 kids with very little cell service for over six hours. Had to tow to nearest dealership (Prescott, az), and had to get a separate towing company to tow our boat to flagstaff, az (40 minutes away). The next business day it was found that something went wrong with the pistons which cussed the entire engine to seize and needed one replaced. I was just outside the manufacturer warranty, and was told it wouldn’t be covered by gm. I was initially quoted almost $20,000 for the new engine but Cadillac did offer a “good faith” repair. I still had to over $6000 to fix the issue and get it running again. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
ENGINEMarch 17, 2025
Was driving down [XXX] in Arizona when lost engine power pulled over and had towed to dealership. The engine needs replacement it has lifter problems the dealer said. Thankfully nobody was hurt but very scary. Car will need to be at dealer for months engine is on backorder. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
POWER TRAINJanuary 30, 2025
My vehicle has stalled twice while I was at a stop sign and/or red light. It says there are no recalls for my Vehicle but I feel it may be a problem.
POWER TRAIN,ENGINEJanuary 23, 2025
Engine breakdown in middle of the road. Lifter valves failed and had to be taken in for complete Engine repair/replacement. Dealership is currently repairing. Vehicle is available to inspect after repair if requested. Lifter valves Engine failure confirmed by dealership. Safety was serious concern as Engine failed in middle road with family in vehicle during heavy traffic. Could have lost control of vehicle as Engine went haywire. 45,997 miles. No warnings signs before complete failure. Just completed a road trip day prior with no issues.
ENGINEJanuary 21, 2025
Car full of kids, going down the expressway in the fast lane the car completely shuts off with no warning. I had to merge four lanes to get to the side of the road and my kids and I could have been in huge trouble if I didn’t remain calm. Once parked the car would not go back into neutral and the town truck had to drag our car with brand new tires onto the truck. I’m livid. The dealership Al Serra Grand Blanc MI confirmed it was the motor and they are now on back order. It’s been there a month.
POWER TRAIN,ENGINEOctober 9, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost automotive power and decelerated before stalling. The vehicle was unable to be restarted and was later towed to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 25,000.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMAugust 8, 2024
My cameras are not working properly and have stopped working completely, I have seen online that theses car have problems like this and have recalls and my car has the same problem now but it’s says it’s not under a recall
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEFebruary 16, 2024
I had my 2021 Cadillac Escalade esv vehicle service twice at the dealership of purchase regarding the vehicle gear shifting on its own and dragging. The service advisor said they couldn’t find a problem with the vehicle. He told bring it back if it does it again. [XXX] the problem occurred twice in one day. I thought maybe I had bumped it out of gear inadvertently. I started looking down every time I touched the gear shift to assure it was the correct setting. I booked appointment service via my phone 2/11/24 for [XXX] service. I was at the car wash drive thru [XXX] my vehicle was in neutral coming off the conveyor belt. As I attempted to pressed the shift toggle to change gear my vehicle made a weird noise . I never got the chance to shift to drive. Grinding pulling noise like it was stuck. My vehicle shot forward like something catapulted. My vehicle hit another vehicle before hitting a wall. My air front air bag never deployed. The collision avoidance did not engage or signal. I don’t understand how a vehicle can shift it self in and out of gear on its own. If I’m doing 25 mile the vehicle shouldn’t make rpm act like I’m doing 100. Also if I’m doing 70 mile the vehicle should not shift down while pressing the gas pedal. Had they listened to me and took what I was saying seriously this would have never happened. Accident location Harperwoods MI [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash reported2 injury(ies)
NHTSA #11572391POWER TRAINNovember 8, 2023
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the message "Service Transmission Now - Unable to Shift Soon" was displayed. The vehicle was later driven to the local dealer however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 39,000.
POWER TRAIN,ENGINESeptember 22, 2023
Car lost power all of the sudden Twice Good things did not happen while driving on the high way Has only 30000 mile Still at Cadillac dealer in California They found internal case defect They r replacing it It is fatal defect
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMSeptember 11, 2023
I drive it from Gilbert Az to San Diego California The car lost power all of sudden Almost killed with my family I left at dealer in California and went back to Gilbert Arizona No diagnosis yet by dealer But I suspect gas pump failure Reported on Internet that Cadillac Recalled some 2021 Escalade For gas pump failure But there is no recall on my car It is now at Simpson GMC Cadillac dealer Buena Park California
AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE,SERVICE BRAKESApril 19, 2023
On 2/21/23, at 1245, I hit the rear bumper of my 2021 Cadillac Escalade when I backed up after I had scraped the driver side of my door panel as I drive thru a gated parking area. I started driving forward, turned left onto the back row of parking area. Suddenly the car accelerated very fast like from 0-60 mph. I quickly tried to step on the brake but the car kept accelerating. I tried to steer the steering wheel away from a parked car that it was headed directly for. The steering wheel locked & wouldn’t turn. The car proceeded to hit a Hyundai. It knocked the Hyundai out of its way & continued to surge forward where it hit another parked dodge ram double cab truck. That’s when the Cadillac stopped. The air bag partially deployed just slightly past the steering wheel. I had absolutely no control of the car.
Crash reported
NHTSA #11517768EXTERIOR LIGHTINGApril 7, 2023
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V827000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN tool showed no present recall.
SERVICE BRAKESMarch 1, 2023
My wife pulled out of a parking lot and was driving down the road at approximately 30mph when the brakes stopped working entirely. There was no response when she pushed on the brake pedal. The car displayed 3 warnings on the driver display: BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE 62 MPH TOP SPEED SERVICE STABILITRAK SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM My wife was able to coast into the next parking lot and go uphill to bring the car to a stop. If this had happened on the highway, this brake failure could have killed my wife and children because the BRAKES ENTIRELY STOPPED WORKING. This is a critical safety issue. Reporting it to NHTSA now to work with Cadillac to get this fixed before someone dies driving a 2021 Cadillac Escalade.
ENGINEFebruary 25, 2023
As far as the findings from the diagnosis, the dealer advised that inspection found crank bearing failure. The engine has been ordered but does not have an ETA at this time.
ENGINEJanuary 25, 2023
2021 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO POWERTRAIN FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED HAVING MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN FOR REPAIR WITH NO ETA ON NEEDED PART DUE TO THE PART BEING ON BACK ORDER.
ENGINEJanuary 16, 2023
I was driving with my family of five on I-15 in Utah County, UT, on 01-14-23 when the ability to accelerate was impacted. We noticed a strange noise from the engine compartment too. After about ten seconds of the strange noise and as I was attempting to cross four lanes of traffic to pull over, the car gave an oil pressure problem reading and shut off as we were in the process of coming to a complete stop. My wife and three kids were traumatized by the incident and I was rattled too. After a few hours, I was able to get towed with the help of State Farm (my insurance company) at my expense (my portion was $143.75 paid by my Visa card). The vehicle was towed to Jerry Seiner Cadillac in SLC, UT. I am now without a family vehicle and no loaners were available, according to the service writer. He said that I will likely have to rent a car while I wait for a new engine. He also said that there are two Cadillac's at the dealership that have been waiting on new engines since May 2022. My family cannot bear the expense of this engine failure, the depreciation of the vehicle while it sits waiting for a new engine, the trauma and danger the incident put us through, and the time I am spending to try to resolve the issue. I'm worried that other will have a similar experience and am writing about this incident to ensure that it's documented.
POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKESDecember 30, 2022
Ever since the lifters broke in the new vehicle (which the dealer now tells us is a defect in the engine and that the lifters keep breaking; it was not a "bad delivery of lifters" as we were initially told), the car idles very rough and has power surges. Today sitting at a red light with the foot lightly on the break, the car lunged forward against the break during one of the power surges. If we had been closer to the vehicle in front of us, or if we had been up against a cross walk, there would have been a collision.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINEDecember 21, 2022
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated while her husband was driving 15 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the electrical system and engine to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 33,000.
ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEDecember 19, 2022
Back in August of 2022 my 2021 Cadillac Escalade started having severe engine roughness, a check engine light, and an error saying that most of the collision safety features had been disabled. I was able to limp the vehicle into a GMC dealer who informed me that Cadillac had received a bad shipment of lifters and that one or more of the lifters had broken. When the vehicle detects an engine problem, it apparently disables most systems in the car. The GMC deal had the car for weeks trying to repair. They told me that Cadillac only authorized replacing 1/2 of the lifters. Since that time, the vehicle has continued to idle very rough ; the RPMs fluctuate and power surges at idle and while driving. I have been attempting to reach the Cadillac customer service people, am routinely told that I'll receive a call back "within 2 business days" but never receive a call back. Last week the vehicle died due to a problem with the automatic software update (it completely drained the vehicle). The Cadillac Rescue service jumped the battery and told me I had to take it to an actual Cadillac dealer and not the GMC dealer who had performed the initial repair. The vehicle had multiple errors including one that said the ABS system needed service. I took the vehicle into the dealer and they charged me for an oil change and 15k mile service. They said there was nothing wrong with the vehicle and that the 6.2L V8 engine was known for having engine roughness and surging problems. A few days later (last Saturday). the check engine light came on and we received a diagnostic text message saying that the engine and transmission required serviced within "1 day." We called the dealer, and they said to bring it in. I called them this morning and apparently they haven't even looked at it and suggest they will not do so until an appointment they created for 12/30!? Is this car safe to drive? Can I get it back?
ENGINEDecember 5, 2022
Friday evening I was left stranded on the side of the road in my 2021 Cadillac Escalade with less than 30k miles that I actually purchased brand brand new about a year or so ago. The vehicle slowed to a crawl in the fast Lane of I65 as cars and semis whipped past me as I attempted to use any last moment to get the shoulder. I finally get to the shoulder and contact Cadillac customer service to get a tow who after approximately 2 hours of supposedly searching for tow technical they come back and tell me they can't find someone to accept the contract. When I say that that is unacceptable I guess they expand the search and come back and tell me that a tow truck that is 2 hours away is coming. At that exact time I got on google myself myself and found a tow truck that got to me in 15 minutes. That then takes me to this morning where I called the service department myself and was informed by John that its is on the batter charger and I will hear back in an hour as I informed him at that moment that I had no vehicle, but he informed me that he couldn't do anything till after they found the issue. Fast forward to the call I receive at 12:20 multiple hours later where I'm informed that it is an issue with the engine of a 2021 Cadillac Escalade with less than 30k and the best that could be done is get me a rental car in Lafayette an hour away from me I contacted the dealership today and have been informed since i intend to consult with an attorney they can no longer speak with me.
SEAT BELTSSeptember 27, 2022
I have been waiting on the dealers to fix this recall for now 2 months and no solution has been found. I need to list my vehicle on turo website and need this recall to be cleared.
SEAT BELTSAugust 29, 2022
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V617000 (Seat Belts) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms part not available.
SEAT BELTSAugust 19, 2022
Hello, I own two 2021 Cadillac Escalades that I brought into my local Cadillac dealership to get the recent "Third Row Seatbelt Retention" remedied. They both return with no repairs needed after a thorough inspection was completed. May I ask how long does it take for my vehicles to be cleared/remedied on the website? My dealership has already sent in the paperwork to NHTSA to get it evaluated. VIN: [XXX] VIN: [XXX] Thank you INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
ENGINEJune 7, 2022
Bought one of only 4 available in the entire USA. Flew to Atlanta to drive it back to CA 11 weeks ago. Since then it’s been at dealership 5 times for a total of 9 weeks for an electrical ghost they can’t fix! Cost us over $60,000 in income this month and paying approx $1500 month insurance while it sits there in a workshop with no resolution. Now working with GM and the BBB. Summary below: ISSUE - only at low speeds, idling, or at start up the car suddenly throws on the heater, service lights going off like lights on the Vegas strip of warning to service just about everything, loses power steering, and won’t shift past 2nd gear even if you could keep driving…restart it and it’s fine except for check engine light if you drive freeways most days. But codes all informational and no real helpful error pinpointing. Dealer can’t find any problems and chasing a ghost so even after calling in top software engineers, they say manufacture won’t approve replacing parts other than one of the hubs. Then tell us they are working on it when we can clearly locate the vehicle through OnStar and see it parked for days at your offsite lot!! We beg them to just try changing battery and wiring since seems basic if it only happens at under 10 mph, idling, or at start up in the morning… all times where battery pull is the highest . But they say we test the simple things first like I’m dumb… ok we’ll explain my video of the battery voltage meter jumping all over the place like ghost hunter spectrometer at Area 51!! This is ridiculous for a 2021 flagship Premium Luxury Platinum ESV model.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINEJune 2, 2022
4/24/2022 Vehicle locks in neutral in major roads as your driving And motor seized I have several videos last night as of 5/01/2022 vehicle locked into park as I was going 50 miles with oncoming traffic I was in fear of danger thank god was able to pull off into side ditch
POWER TRAINMarch 7, 2022
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V036000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
ENGINEJanuary 6, 2022
On November 29th 2021, I cranked up my ESV headed to work. To my surprise, I heard which to me sounds like metal hammers clanking together. I immediately turn off the truck. In my experience it sounded like lifters and pistons out of sync. If I had been traveling to work this would have left me stranded on the freeway. I called roadside to set an appt to flatbed the truck to the dealership where I just purchased the ESV 8 months ago (11,100k mi). Currently, the last update was the upper half of the ESV engine has to be rebuilt due to damaged cam, lifters & piston rods. When asked, the service writer mention there have been 2021 Escalades along with Denali's with the same engine malfunction returned back to the dealership. Also, the tow driver informed me that he has responded to the same exact noise coming from 2021 Escalade models frequently approximately 3 or more monthly. That's a lot for a $100k vehicle of any luxury model. The inspection for these defective of back part has only been looked at by the dealership. I expect to also see these damage parts as well. No new engine was repaired the issue. The breakdown determined the bottom half of the engine was fine and only the top portion of the engine was in need of rebuild. Upon cranking the ESV, there were NO warning lights, symptoms, diagnostic prompts that alerted me of the noise. In conclusion, as of Jan 6th 2022, my Escalade ESV has been at the dealership now over a month. Shipping issues with damaged parts along with diagnostic issues post previous rebuilds has keep the ESV inoperable, yet Im left with the tag of paying the note for a vehicle I do not have in my possession.
EXTERIOR LIGHTINGNovember 19, 2021
2021 CADILLAC ESCALADE. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE WERE INTENSELY BRIGHT.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINEOctober 26, 2021
5/19/2021, Engine Vibrating, vehicle stall, 3 days repair. Ignition wiring bad/ replaced 5/28/2021, Engine Vibrating, Vehicle stop running, 3 day repair/electric module burn/temporary repair by Georgia car dealer. 6/3/2021 taken to NY dealer to repair 5/28/2021 problems, 15 Day to repair. 10/12/2021 Engine vibrating, passenger compartment filled with smoke, valve lifter crack, vehicle parked on dealers parking lot for 15 day, has not been repair. Vehicle has spent 35 total days in car dealers for different engine problems. On all occasions dashboard has gong haywire. Emergency brake lock, passenger door would not open 10/12/2021. Contacted GMC has not responded.
ENGINESeptember 7, 2021
At 3,000 miles on this new car, the motor began to rattle, shake, and then heat up to 240-260 degrees when the dashboard flashed and the vehicle and lights turned off. The brakes were not powered and because I was towing a trailer at night, I nearly crashed. My wife and 5 children were in the car with me. I have since learned that there is a major problem with these new Cadillacs, but if I would have know the motor was going to grenade and then turn off the car, I would not have spent $110,000 on this car.
ENGINEJuly 30, 2021
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, the contact heard an abnormal rattling sound and then saw smoke coming from under the hood. Other drivers were honking at the contact and alerted him that there was oil leaking from the rear of the vehicle. There was no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to pull over and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed that the axle rod had detached causing an engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The dealer was awaiting a new replacement engine. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 2,000. Vin was not available.
Fire reported
NHTSA #11427220ENGINEJuly 30, 2021
2021 CADILLAC ESCALADE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS T0 ENGINE FAILURE.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEJune 28, 2021
When driving on the city streets of Chicago I approached a movable bridge which spans the Illinois river. The bridge deck was constructed of steel. As I was about to begin crossing the bridge my car brakes locked up completely, sending the vehicle into a short skid. Fortunately, the car behind me was not tailgating me or I most certainly would have been struck in the back of the vehicle. This is a brand new vehicle which I took delivery of on May 14, 2021. There were no warning lights or indications that anything was malfunctioning on the vehicle. I can only guess that all of the steel in the bridge decking somehow was interpreted by my vehicle to be another vehicle, and automatically slammed on the brakes in the mistaken assumption that I was about to hit another vehicle ahead of me. In fact, there was not another vehicle ahead of me for about 100 yards.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTUREJune 28, 2021
I recently purchased a 2021 Cadillac Escalade with Supercruise driver assistance system. There have been at least 5 instances where I attempted to turn off the Supercruise function and the system does not allow me to regain control of the vehicle. For example, I will turn off the Supercruise fuction by hitting the Supercruise function on the steering wheel and it will begin to flash red on the steering wheel. I will move the steering wheel slightly to let the system know I am taking control of the vehicle but the vehicle does not recognize my input. The car will start to slow down, turn on the flashers, and announce over the speakers to "Take Control of the Vehicle." The main issue is that the car will fight me and not allow me to accelerate to keep up with traffic. There are sometimes when supercruise turns off without incident, but my issue stems from when Supercruise mistakenly thinks that I am not in control of the vehicle and slows down. Again, I have put my hands back on, I put input into the steering wheel to let it know I'm in control and even tap the brakes. I have contacted Cadillac Customer Service and have opened a case on June 28, 2021. The case number is 9-680-7138449
ENGINEMay 9, 2021
WHILE DRIVING WITHIN THE SPEED LIMIT OF APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON A 3 LANE HIGHWAY ON ROUTE 476 IN PENNSYLVANIA, THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE OR MAINTAIN SPEED WAS INEXPLICABLY DISABLED. I WAS FORCED TO ATTEMPT TO MOVE THE VEHICLE ACROSS MULTIPLE LANES IN AN EFFORT TO REACH THE BREAKDOWN LANE. SECONDS AFTER REACHING THE BREAKDOWN LANE, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE ON A FLATBED AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO HOLMAN CADILLAC IN MARLTON NEW JERSEY. I AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE AND NO LOANERS WERE AVAILABLE. I AM REPORTING THIS HAZARDOUS INCIDENT FOR YOUR RECORDS. PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF THIS SUBMISSION THROUGH A RETURN EMAIL. MY NAME IS [XXX] AND EMAIL ADDRESS IS [XXX]. THANK YOU PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFebruary 5, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR BEGAN TO FLICKER AND THEN WENT BLANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER BAKER MOTOR COMPANY OF CHARLESTON (1513 SAVANNAH HWY SUITE A, CHARLESTON, SC 29407, (843) 628-0202) WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20.
UNKNOWN OR OTHERDecember 17, 2020
SERVICE DRIVER ASSIST SYSTEM ALERT WHILE DRIVING DEALER IS CONSULTING WITH CADILLAC ENGINEERING, BUT CAN'T FIGURE HOW TO FIX, BECAUSE NO CODE APPEARS - EVEN THOUGHT THE WARNING STILL APPEARS